| |||||||||||||
Software is The Glass Bead GameSoftware is The Glass Bead GamePosted Jan 31, 2012 2:25 UTC (Tue) by giraffedata (subscriber, #1954)In reply to: Software is The Glass Bead Game by dlang Parent article: LCA: Addressing the failure of open source
I'm certainly not saying that slide-to-unlock is not a software patent. In fact, we've been using it as an example of one all along. And I am only guessing as to what the claims of that patent are. I'd like to know, actually (not enough to read it, though). But I'm willing to bet, still, that they don't include program listings or identify a particular piece of software, so if one's definition of software patent is a patent on some software, it isn't one of those.
(Log in to post comments)
Software is The Glass Bead Game Posted Jan 31, 2012 2:39 UTC (Tue) by jrn (subscriber, #64214) [Link]
Ok, here's a simple question to help flesh out what you are saying. US patent 4558302 (LZW compression) is pretty old and easy to find online. Its figures do include some code listings, though if they didn't I don't think that would change anything. It is definitely not a patent of any particular software package; it is a patent on the algorithm.
Is it, in your view, a software patent?
Software is The Glass Bead Game Posted Jan 31, 2012 3:03 UTC (Tue) by giraffedata (subscriber, #1954) [Link] Is it, in your view, a software patent? I don't know. Remember, I'm the guy who says he doesn't know what the term "software patent" means. Incidentally, though I have only a passing familiarity with patents, ISTR there is stuff in an application besides claims, like stuff that demonstrates the invention is actually complete and useful, so drawings and code listings might be in there without being part of the claims.
Software is The Glass Bead Game Posted Jan 31, 2012 5:32 UTC (Tue) by dlang (✭ supporter ✭, #313) [Link]
nothing in a patent is required to be 'useful'
Software is The Glass Bead Game Posted Jan 31, 2012 16:08 UTC (Tue) by giraffedata (subscriber, #1954) [Link] nothing in a patent is required to be 'useful'One thing I do remember from a class long ago is the three pillars of patentability: the invention must be new, useful, and nonobvious. I just googled that phrase to make sure I hadn't fabricated it in my mind over the years, and I got a bunch of hits.
Software is The Glass Bead Game Posted Feb 1, 2012 12:53 UTC (Wed) by java_developer (guest, #82469) [Link]
dlang a patent does have to be useful, at least in the US which may not be where you are based.
Software is The Glass Bead Game Posted Feb 1, 2012 19:22 UTC (Wed) by dlang (✭ supporter ✭, #313) [Link]
in theory you are correct, but in theory it must also be novel and non-obvious.
in practice, the person applying for a patent doesn't even have to prove that the idea works (no working models required)
|
|||||||||||||